Describes a naturalistic case study involving a class of urban, ethnically diverse eighth graders who had studied the exploration and British colonization of North America. Most had considerable difficulty reconstructing what they had learned and explaining why they were studying history. New history education standards may help students connect…

Discusses the difference national standards could make in the education of American children and of the public at large, noting that any educational improvements will be determined by the quality of the ensuing debate. The paper examines the debate over national standards in history education and makes suggestions for future debate. (SM)

Provides lists of historical works dealing with the Columbian quincentenary. Includes publications about Christopher Columbus, the Mediterranean in the late fifteenth century, the spirit of exploration of the period, pre-Columbian America and its societies, and the impact of European contact with America. Urges a broad teaching approach to…

Compares Robert Palmer's interpretation of the French Revolution with the Marxist and revisionist views. Stresses Palmer's theory that the French Revolution belongs to the same spiritual family as the American. Reports that Palmer saw the French Revolution as the climactic event in a series of similar upheavals that integrated liberal democracy…

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of history strategy instruction that emphasized problem-solution-effect analysis and linkage of knowledge, in teaching 24 junior high students with behavior disorders. Instruction included a scripted curriculum, student note taking, construction of timelines, vocabulary definitions, and reciprocal…

Discusses project HI-SITE, Historical Inquiry Strategies in Teacher Education. Explains that the project is designed to present an instructional model providing choices for learning experiences involving primary evidence for preservice teachers. Describes several experimental options including investigation or field study of a site, an…

Examines resources for teaching about the experiences of women on the American frontier. The use of various print and nonprint resources is discussed; and an annotated list of 7 videos, 12 print resources (i.e., diaries, journals, and reminiscences), and 8 sources of background information is provided. Two related lesson plans are presented. (MES)

Recommends that media presentations can be used effectively in the history classroom as images of reality. Suggests films and television programs and documentaries that can be utilized to show how movies play a role in shaping opinion and changing perceptions. (DK)

Discusses state history instruction in U.S. schools. Describes the writing of an updated history of Minnesota for use in instruction. Addresses the inclusion of the history of minorities, women, and the environment in the book. Suggests that state history is a natural stage for demonstrating the interplay between the individual and the universal.…

Encourages educators to rethink approaches to teaching about Columbus'"discovery" of the Americas. Recommends that teachers examine textbooks for balance of presentation about Columbus. Suggests using children's literature and primary sources in addressing the topic. Underscores the need to present a balanced, multicultural explanation…

Offers suggestions for incorporating literature into teaching history. Outlines several activities designed to extend students' understanding of historical events. Includes a suggested reading list of fiction covering various periods in U.S. history for grades 4 through 12. (NL)

Recommends including geography in history instruction. Suggests that the theme of time is implicit in the five fundamental geographical themes of location, place, relationships within places, movement, and regions. Observes that maps enable students to visualize historic events. Concludes that geography can help students connect past and present.…

Suggests promoting student critical thinking and motivation through the dramatization of U.S. history. Explains that the exercises make use of old newspaper articles, diaries, and letters, as well as physical artifact facsimiles. Discusses an activity in which students acted out the formation of the Iroquois nation, then wrote first person…

Describes the California Assessment Program's (CAP) group performance assessment task. Provides a sample task field test in world history, including written and culminating exercises. Suggests that such assessment exercises are popular with students and provide the teacher with an amalgam of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. (DK)

Describes a social studies unit for use in U.S. history courses or a class in contemporary social problems. Explores child labor in U.S. history and today. Includes questions, research, and discussion for small groups of students. Suggests that the unit helps students' view themselves as part of the learning process. (DK)